Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins declared himself the victim of a legal and political “assassination attempt” at a news conference Tuesday after federal prosecutors dismissed charges accusing him of conspiring to helping a local gun store illegally obtain machine guns.

“It was a near miss,” Jenkins said, comparing himself to President-elect Donald Trump. “I was injured and bloodied, but I never gave up the fight. I will never do it.

The move came three weeks after a federal jury acquitted his co-defendant, Robert Krop, of all charges and the judge in the case asked prosecutors to consider whether to move forward against Jenkins.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Defense attorney Andrea Smith, who served as a federal prosecutor in the Maryland office for 26 years, said she found the case against Jenkins so outrageous that she said she was investigating whether he could recover attorney’s fees under the Hyde Amendment, which requires proof that someone was sued “vexatiously, frivolously, or in bad faith.”

“They had no evidence in this case,” Smith said. “It wasn’t right from the start, and I’m so happy it’s finally over.”

Jenkins, 68, a Republican, is in his fifth term and has been a staunch defender of the issue of illegal immigration. He attended several White House events hosted by Trump. Jenkins was indicted under the direction of U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, appointed by President Joe Biden. The deputy who prosecuted the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo Wise, later left the Jenkins case to join the team prosecuting Hunter Biden.

Federal prosecutors obtained a grand jury indictment in April 2023 alleging that Jenkins used his position to improperly assist gun store owner Krop in acquiring machine guns for rental to the public, signing letters saying the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office wanted to see a weapons demonstration. , which was false.

The Machine Gun Nest made more than $100,000 in profits from machine gun rentals in 2018 and 2019, according to the indictment.

Jenkins said he believed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives suspected he was receiving bribes or “some sort of quid pro quo,” which he did not could not establish after sifting through his bank accounts, emails and campaign contributions. He said he didn’t know Krop and had interacted with him “maybe twice.”

During Tuesday afternoon’s press conference, Jenkins removed his suit jacket and proudly displayed his service weapon on his hip. It had been withdrawn as a condition of his provisional release.

Jenkins initially took a leave of absence following the indictment, but later returned to work. He said he never intended to resign and was encouraged daily by his supporters — and even his detractors, he said — to fight and remain sheriff.

“I will do everything I can to protect this county,” he said.

Krop was acquitted on October 22. His attorney, Dan Cox, told the Frederick News-Post that “from the beginning, the evidence showed there was no definition for why (the government) was pursuing my client.”

Prosecutors and Jenkins’ lawyers wanted Krop to stand trial first, saying the charges against him were stronger. Prosecutors had noted early on that there was a “real possibility” they would drop the charges against Jenkins if Krop was acquitted.

Jenkins’ lawyers said he received nothing of value by signing the letters and had no intention of committing a violation of the law. They said he sought to meet with federal prosecutors and was rebuffed.

“In this case, the defendant admits and acknowledges that he was negligent. Negligence is not a criminal culpability,” they wrote in a filing.

Jenkins acknowledged other cases across the country where sheriffs had been accused of accepting bribes for such gun protests. “I’m not that sheriff,” he said. “I’m not that person.”

When Jenkins reversed his decision to take leave, county leaders criticized him. County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, a Democrat, said in a statement that she was “disappointed that he went back on his word,” while County Council Vice Chairman Kavonté Duckett, also a Democrat, said that Jenkins “made a mockery of the process.”

In an interview with a local radio station, Jenkins called it “my cancer.” It’s my illness. I am fighting for my life.

Jenkins said Tuesday that the case against him has made him question the power of the justice system.

“If you are truly not guilty, never give up,” he said.